Former Pete Kurtis Foster named assistant coach of Petes
Kurtis Foster’s relationship with the Peterborough Petes has come full circle.
He started his junior hockey career with the Maroon and White and now he’s starting his coaching career with the team.
The OHL and NHL veteran signed on with the Petes as an assistant coach.
He’ll join the team this summer to work with players leading into the 2016-17 season.
The father of two said it means a lot to start his coaching career with his former junior team.
“They always say, once a Pete always a Pete, and really for me it is,” Foster said, 34.
Foster played for the Petes throughout his entire junior career, from 1997 to 2001, and was drafted by the Calgary Flames 40th overall in the second round of the 2000 NHL draft.
During his time with the Petes, Foster appeared in 256 games, scoring 36 goals, 60 assists and 96 points.
He went on to play in the NHL for Atlanta, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Edmonton, Anaheim, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Throughout his 405-game NHL career, the defencemen notched 42 goals, 118 assists and 160 points.
After retiring from the NHL in 2013, Foster continued playing pro hockey in Russia and Germany
He also received the 2003/04 AHL Yannick Dupre award for his community involvement, playing for the Chicago Wolves at the time.
For the last 15 years, he’s called Peterborough home during the summer, and bought a house in the city about nine years ago with his wife Stephanie.
They have two sons, Jackson, 5, and Charlie, 3.
“This is home for our boys,” said the Carp native.
Over the years, he said his always kept an eye on the Petes, paying attention to how they were doing.
Now he’ll be coaching alongside assistant coaches Andrew Verner and Jake Grimes and head coach Jody Hull.
As his first season coaching, Foster said he plans to take it all in, learning from his fellow coaches.
“I’m just happy to be apart of the team and help out any way I can,” he said.
The Petes training camp opens Aug. 30, running until Sept. 2. The preseason begins with a game Sept. 4 against Oshawa at 2:05 p.m. at the Memorial Centre.
Foster said he’s excited to work with his team and build relationships.
“Hopefully they’ll want help from me to help them prolong their career and get to the next level.”
At the end of the day, Foster said he’s lucky to start his coaching career in a place he calls home.
“Just to be a member of the Petes again is pretty amazing thing and I’m just very excited for the opportunity.”